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Reproduction of Thomas Cole painting on display at Seward House

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"Portage Falls on the Genesee,'' by Thomas Cole, used to grace the Seward House in Auburn. It was removed due to security concerns and may be sold. Officials said Monday that a replica now hangs in its place.
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Auburn, NY -- An original Thomas Cole painting that had hung in the Seward House Museum in Auburn for more than 100 years has been replaced by a "museum quality" replica, officials announced Monday.

The painting, "Portage Falls by the Genesee," was given to William H. Seward in 1839 as a gift from his supporters when he was governor of New York. It had hung in his home at 33 South St. until February, when the painting's owner the Fred L. Emerson Foundation removed it over concerns for its safety.

The painting is valued at about $18 million.

The foundation promised at the time that the original 84 by 60 inch painting with its large gilt frame that dominated the museum's drawing room would be replaced by an exact replica. It is now on display.

"This beautiful reproduction hangs in the drawing room, allowing museum guides to continue to tell the story of the painting, Seward's relationship to the artist, and Seward's role in New York State's history," said a letter signed by Emerson Foundation President Anthony D. Franceschelli and museum President Daniel J. Fisher.

Seward, 1801-1872, was governor of New York for two terms, a U.S. Senator and was U.S. Secretary of State as part of President Abraham Lincoln's cabinet. His grandson donated Seward's house and its contents to the Emerson Foundation in 1951 to be kept as a memorial to his father and grandfather. The foundation has paid for the museum's operating costs since then.

In 2008, the foundation spun the museum off into its own entity allowing it to be chartered with the state as a museum.

Earlier this year, the foundation had said it wanted to sell the work painted by the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting and split the proceeds to create an endowment for the museum.

Seward's descendents and others objected saying that the painting was a valuable piece of history that should remain with the house. In May, the Cayuga County Surrogate's Court appointed Seward descendent Ray Messenger as executor of William H. Seward III's will to oversee its charitable intent.

"We fully recognize the concerns that have been raised relative to the Thomas Cole painting and remain committed to working with the courts and attorney general's office to determine a plan that will best safeguard the painting and protect the long term financial viability and well-being of the museum," the letter said.

Contact Charley Hannagan by voice or text at 315-470-2161, by email at channagan@syracuse.com, on Facebook at Neighbors West or on Twitter @charleypost.